Калужский музей изобразительных искусств

Alexander Gagarin Gagarin was born in Kaluga in the family of a high school teacher. Engaged under the direction of A.V. Fadeev in the art studio of the Cooperative of Students, then in the studio at the Kaluga Art Museum under the direction of T.A. Kalashnikov. Since 1935, Gagarin participated in exhibitions of works of Kaluga artists, in 1938-1940 in regional exhibitions. In 1940 - 1941 he became a participant in exhibitions of works by artists of the periphery in Moscow, in 1951 - the Moscow exhibition of works of artists of the RSFSR.

In 1953, Alexander Gagarin was one of the organizers of the local branch of the Union of Artists of the USSR opened in Kaluga and was its first chairman from 1955-1957. Works of members of the Union of Artists, distinguished by restraint and good quality during this period were created in full accordance with the principles of socialist realism. The development of realistic art proceeded along the path of incorporating the truth about the present, non-industrial and not relegated "to the bright future" of life, teaching the viewer to see and appreciate the authentic.

Among the works of Alexander Gagarin are many portraits and thematic paintings, created in full accordance with the principles of socialist realism. However, most of all, his excellent human qualities were expressed in the chamber things - sketches, small landscapes, still lifes, sketches. They are written tasty, with sincere passion and pleasure. Precisely such Gagarin knew almost all intelligent Kaluga. Such is the etude "Girl", made by the artist in 1955.

The artist develops a canvas in a sketchy manner with broad brush strokes with a stiff brush. In the center of the composition, he depicts the figure of a girl to the waist on a white and blue snowy background. The model is dressed in a warm dark blue coat, wearing a headscarf on her head, from which strands of blond hair are knocked out, echoing the fur collar. The girl’s face glows with freshness, a pinking blush, blue eyes are turned to the viewer. Perhaps the artist depicted her for cleaning the snow, so she holds two sticks in her hands.

In the collection of the Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts, besides the presented etude, there are twelve works by Alexander Gagarin, in particular, “Portrait of the Honored Doctor of the RSFSR A.Ye. Konev "," Portrait N.V. Kozlov - the worker-inventor of the plant KMAME "," Portrait of A.I. Semenichev - veteran of the Civil and Great Patriotic Wars "," Autumn Study "," Hot summer day. Sketch "and other works of the artist.